Yobs as young as 11 have been blamed for a shocking spree of housebreaking, robbery, joyriding, drug offences and even sexual assault.

And frustrated officers admitted the worst tearaways could already be a lost cause.

One Edinburgh cop said: “These kids know that the law basically can’t do much until they reach the adult courts.

“Until that time you’re trying to limit the damage. Some might turn it around but others are on their way to a life of crime.”

The cop — who didn’t want to be named — added: “It’s terrible to say, but some of them may be beyond help, even at 14 or 15.

“These are often damaged kids from difficult backgrounds without real support from family or others to help change their ways.”

Figures show a group of just ten kids are behind 800 crimes in the capital.

They include an 11-year-old lad with a record of assault and robbery, car theft and sexual assault.

Meanwhile, one 15-year-old boy has committed 117 offences in the past two years, making him the most prolific criminal under 16.

He is one of three kids to have notched up 100 charges or more.

Stats released under freedom of information laws show the number of crimes in Edinburgh committed by kids aged 17 and under FELL to 9,912 in 2011 — from 10,840 the previous year.

But that still amounts to 27 offences a day. Seven of the ten most prolific tearaways are aged 15 — with two 14-year-olds and another aged 11. Each hooligan has more than 50 crimes to his name.

Labour justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: “We have young people who are out of control. They have neither self-control nor parents nor guardians in their lives who are able or willing to exert control over them.

“When you have an 11-year-old committing more than 50 offences something is seriously wrong.”

And Scottish Tory chief whip John Lamont demanded “measures that will let youngsters know a life of crime is not to be desired”.

Councillor Paul Godzik, the city’s children and families leader, said: “Incidents of youth offending have dropped substantially and we will continue to work towards reducing this number.”

Lothian and Borders Police insisted they work closely with social workers and schools on early intervention.

A spokesman added: “We have dedicated school link officers, who engage closely with pupils, teachers and parents on a daily basis. This has proven extremely successful in reducing reports of youth crime.”